Alternative cultivars

Charles Visser

At the moment there is a fair amount of interest in other cultivars apart from the
usual international cultivars that are currently being planted in South Africa.

Some producers have already realised that the adventurous wine lover is looking for
other flavours and wine styles and have begun to plant small quantities of the newer
cultivars.

The Western Cape Vine Discussion Group studied a number of these cultivars in 1999
and based on the limited information that is currently available, recommendations
have been made regarding the wine and cultivation potential of the cultivars.

Barbera

Origin: Italy

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 10 877

Production
Production: 3 - 4 kg/vine
Acid: 9 - 10 g/l at 24 - 26°B
Ripening: Mid season (end February to beginning March)
Bunch mass: 190 g
Berries: Average size

Clones
BB 1 (VSA) and BB 84 (Italy)

Wine and cultivation potential

May be planted in warm areas on medium to low potential soils. In cool areas high
acids may be a problem, 101-14 should be used for earlier ripening. Only as a blend
cultivar with Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon and possibly Shiraz, Petit Verdot and
Malbec.

Carignan

Origin: Spain

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 2 386

Production
Production: 8 - 10 kg/vine
Acid: 6 - 8 g/l at 22 - 23°B
Ripening: Late season (middle to end March)
Bunch mass: 350 g
Berries: Average to large

Clones
CA 1, CA 4 (Local) and CA 171 (France)

Wine and cultivation potential

Limited application in South Africa. Possible in warm, dry areas, low potential soils,
dryland, extensive. Light style dry wine or as a blend with Cabernet Sauvignon and
Shiraz.

Grenache

Origin: Spain

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 0

Production
Production: Average
Growth vigour: Strong
Sometimes problems with drooping
Ripening: Late mid to late season
Bunches: Large
Berries: Average

Clone
GN 70 (France)

Wine and cultivation potential

May be planted in moderate and warm, dry areas on medium to low potential soils,
extensive conditions. Not for intensive irrigation areas due to low quality when
production is high. Resistant to drought, wind and sun. May be used in blends with
e.g. Shiraz, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Crop control is required.

Malbec

Origin: France

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 29 024

Production
Production: 5 - 6 kg/vine (Big variation from year
to year)
Acid: 6 - 7 g/l at 22 - 23°B
Ripening: Early mid season (mid to end February)
Bunches: Medium large (250 g)
Berry: Medium large (2,5 g)

Clones
MC 1(California), MC 71(Argentina), MC 46 and MC 279 (France)

Wine and cultivation potential

Vigorously growing cultivar that is inclined to drooping. Sensitive to weather
conditions, especially during flowering. Use less vigorous rootstocks to improve berry
set. Crop should be controlled. Malbec is recommended in cooler regions with good
soils. May be used as a cultivar wine or as a blend with e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon and
Merlot.

Mourvèdre (Mataro)

Origin: Spain

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 15 608

Cultivation
Production: 5 - 7 kg/vine
Growth vigour: Strong
Acid: 6 g/l at 22 - 23°B
Ripening: Late mid season (end February to middle March)
Bunch mass: 300 g
Berries: Small and round

Clone
MT 11

Wine and cultivation potential

Crop control required. Recommended in mild to warm areas. Limited use on medium
potential soils. May be recommended in limited quantities in blends.

Nebbiolo

Origin: Italy

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother
blocks: 16 493
Production
Production: 3 - 4 kg/vine
Growth vigour: Average
Ripening: Mid to late season
Bunch mass: 300 g
Berry mass: 2 g

Clones
NB 2, NB 3, NB 36 and NB 230 (Italy)

Wine and cultivation potential

Limited application due to lack of sufficient experience with cultivar.

Petit Verdot

Origin: France

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 60 546

Production
Production: 5 - 7 kg/vine
Growth vigour: Moderate
Acid: 7 - 9 g/l at 23 - 25°B
Ripening: Late mid season (end February to mid March)
Bunches: 200 g
Berries: Small and round with thick skins

Clones
PR 400 and PR 8719 (France)

Wine and cultivation potential

Crop control required. Petit Verdot is recommended in all regions with medium to high
potential soils. May be used as a cultivar wine or as a blend, especially with Cabernet
Sauvignon and Merlot. Tends to bear profusely, wind sensitive.

Sangiovese

Origin: Italy

Availability of material
Vines in mother blocks: 22 474

Production
Production: 4 - 6 kg/vine
Acid: 7 - 8 g/l at 23 - 24°B
Ripening: Late mid season
Bunch mass: 350 g
Berry mass: 2,5 g

Clones
SG 1 (SS9/A5/48), SG 2 (VCR 5) and SG 3 (VCR 23) from Italy

Wine and cultivation potential

Crop control is required. Limited application as high quality wine. Limited application
in warm areas on medium to low potential soils. Possible as a blend cultivar with
Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, Petit Verdot and Malbec.

Verdelho

Origin: Portugal

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 0

Production
Production: 2 - 3 kg/vine
Acid: 6 - 8 g/l at 24 - 25°B
Ripening: Early mid season (beginning to middle February)
Bunches: Average to small, not very compact (150 g)
Berries: Small, oval and fairly hard (1,3 g)
Less rot: Bunches not compact, berries with thick skins

Clones
VH 1 (Australia) VH 2 (NIWW)

Wine and cultivation potential

May be planted on medium to low potential soils. May be used as a blend cultivar.

Viognier

Origin: France

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 24 569

Production
Production: 2 - 3 kg/vine
Growth vigour: Average
Acid: 5 - 7g/l at 22 - 23°B
Ripening: Early (end of January to middle February)
Bunch: 203 g
Berries: 1,6 g

Clones
VR 1, VR 2 and VR 642 (France)

Wine and cultivation potential

Tends to slight rot on very fertile soils. Recommended in all areas in small quantities
on medium to high potential soils. May be used as a cultivar wine and/or a blend
cultivar. Not suited to deep, badly drained soils with high humidity, due to its
susceptibility to Botrytis.

Zinfandel

Origin: California (similar to Primitivo of Italy)

Availability of material
Number of vines in mother blocks: 9 078

Production
Production: 7 - 10 kg/vine Growth vigour: Strong
Acid: 8 - 10 g/l at 22 - 23°B Ripening: Late mid
season (end February to early March) Bunches: 230 g Berries: 2,3 g

Clones
ZD 75 (California)

Wine and cultivation potential

Problems - uneven ripening, fruit-fly, high acids, fermentation problems, wind and rot
sensitive. Warm dry areas, light style of wine. Blend cultivar with e.g. Cabernet
Sauvignon and Shiraz. Extremely limited application due to viticultural problems.